Indicating device



H. S. CAHEN INDICATING DEVICE May 7, 1929.

2 Sheets-Sheet Filed Feb. 19, 1927 arm/6116M, I mvmwwsfixww mWM alumna,

May 7, 1929. H; 5, H N 1,711,632

INDICATING DEVICE Filed Feb. 19, 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented May 7, 1929.

UNITED STATES HERMAN S. GAHEN, 0F CLEVELAND :HEIGHTS, OHIO.

INDI()JUPING DEVICE.

Application filed February 19, 1927. Serial No. 169,619.

This invention relates to automatic indicating devices for use in connection with sewing machines or the like for instance a machine for sewing together the sections of abook. I U

In the operation of a machine for sewing together the sections of a book, according to the well-known practice, the attendant feeds the sections successively into the machine from the-stack in which thesections are grouped according to the number and arrangement intended for a particular book. The number of sections varies, of course, for different books, but the number should be the same for all books in the same piece of work. It is possible, however, that there will be too few or too many sections in some individual groups of sections that are "to be sewed together. And it is this possible error that it is desirable to have automatically called to the attention of the operator so as to avoid the sewing andlater binding of.

an imperfect book. y

it is therefore the object Of the present invention to provide sucha device for indieating to the operator whether the prearranged groups of book sections contain the proper number of sections.

More specifically, it is the object of my invention to provide such a means in the form of an attachment which canbe applied to the sewing machine already in use and hence without requiring any modification of the sewing machine structure.

w A still further object consists in so constructing such a device that it can be adjusted or set according to the number of sections per book the particularpiece of work, and can alsobe reversed or reset aft-erthe sewing operation hasbeen started.

Still further objects will'be apparent from the followingdescription and claims when considered together with the accompanying drawing.

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of my im 'iroved attachment; Fig. 1 is an enlarged, detail view illustrating a portion. of the boolcsewing mechanism to which the present invention is applied; Fig. 2 is a frontelevation thereof; Fig. 3 is'a detail View taken on line 33 of 2 and showsthe parts in one position; and Fig. 4 isa view similar to Fig. 3 but showingthe parts in the'succeed- .ingposition. e

The main bracket -1 of my att-a'chment is adapted to be secured to the, end of the well 'cated by arrow in Fig. 3[ 7 known form of. book-sewing machine by means of' screw bolts 2 which already form part of the sewing machine frame :3. Fixedly mounted on the inner side oi the bracket is the stud bearing 4 upon which is rotatably mounted the gear 5 with its hub on its inner side. .This gear 5 isoperated by pinion '2' which is rotated intermittently by pawl 'Z. This pawl is, carried by the rock arm 8 which receives its, rockinginovement from the cross bar 9. v The bar 9 is that part of the. book-sewing machine which moves the heads up and down and is some times referred'to asthe head-motion bar The rock arm 8 is clamped upon the bar 9 by means of screws '11. The pawl 7 is engaged by spring- 12 andhas an adj ustahle stop screw 13. Thus for each and every upward movement of thev bar. 9, the pinion 7 and the gear 5 are moved the extent of one tooth; and, since each upward movement or bar 9 corresponds to t-hestitching operation for each individual book section; itwill be seen that the number of sectionsfed into 7 the machine and stitched-will be represented by the number of teeth the gear 5 turned.

The gear 5 is held in its successive. post.-

tions by the locking pawl 15jwhich-is mounted upon a stud shaft in the flupwardly extending arm 16 of the bracket 1Q A. spring 15 is providedifor pawl 15. The weight. 17 is suspended from the cord or cable18. which is attached at its one end to the hub of gear 5,and extends over the sheave: 19 mounted onbracket 1. The intermittent. movement of gear 5 winds upthe cord or cableflS thereby creating a potential force for reverse automatic operation. of the gear 5 at. the proper,,moment as willbenow explained, The direction of winding movement is indi- Gearb is provided with a t-rip pin'QQ which is screwed or otherwise secured in one ofthe series of holes 21 in. the gear 5. pin is adapted to engage the dependinglin g'er '22 on the lower end of the rockably mounted'bar 23, the upper end-of which serves as a striker for the bell 24. This hell is mounted on the upper extension 250i the upright portion 26. of the bracket. '1 The pin 20'is set in the proper hole accord} ing to t-h'eunu'mber of sections in the parties ular bookto be sewe'ch and this'action'tak s placeautomatically when the gear 5 has been vadvancedthe number of teethcorre spondmg thereto. Thebar 23'1s roclrably mounted upon the stud shaft or bearing 27 on the upright portion 26 of the bracket,

- there being permitted a slight movement of this bar about the axis of the shaft 27, limited by adjustable stop screw 28, and there being permitted also a slight movement in a plane at ninety degrees to that of the rocking movement just referred to, There is sufiicient play in the mounting of this bar to permit such combined movements, and the purpose of the same will now be explained. There is also an adjustable stop 26.

b The coil spring 29 has one end fastened to the lower part of the bar, as at 30, and is anchored at its other end to the upright portion 1 of the bracket. This spring extends diagonally so as to tend to pull the bar 23 both laterally and rearwardly. During the intermittent movement of gear 5, thelateral pull of spring 29 holds the bar 23 in such position that its lower end portion is' free of the detent 31 which is here shown as being screw-threaded and hence adjustable in the upright portion 26. Under such condition, the screw 32, which extends through the lateral extension 33 of the lower end of bar 23, is in idle position and permits the pawl 15 to engage with the teeth of gear 5, in the manner above described. But when pin 20 engages the downwardly extending portion 22 on the lower end of bar 23, as will happen when the gear5 has been given the predetermined number of intermittent movements, the bar 23 is rocked about the shaft 27 and the upper end of bar 23 is moved away from the bell so as to be set for later striking and ringing the same. This rocking movement is suihcient to cause the screw 32 to engage and raise the pawl 15 out of engagement with the teeth of gear 5 and to move the shoulder or edge 35 past the end of detent 31, whereupon the combined rearward and lateral pull of spring 29 causes the shoulder or edge 35 to engage detent 31 and to thereby hold the screw 32 in raised or active position against the'under side of pawl 15. The radius of the lower portion.

of bar 23 is. of proper length to permit this action'of screw 32. The gear 5, being no longer held against reverse movement, is now released to the action of the weight 1-7, with the result that the gearh is instantaneously rotated in reverse direction, as indicated by arrow in Fig. 4, until the inclined or cam member 36engages the portion 22. The cam member 36 is so constructed and arranged that its engagement with the-portion 22 causes the same to move towards the gear 5 and thereby causes the shoulder 35 to move out of engagement with the detent 31 with the assistance of spring 27 and the lateral pull of spring 29 at once causes the bar 23 to 'rotate'on its axis so. that the upper end thereof strikes and rings the bell. Screw 32 is at the same timereturned to lower or idle position and the lower portion of bar 23 extends across the end of detent 31. The pin 37 on gear 5 is so positioned that it will engage the fixed stop 38 on the upright portion of the bracket, which engagement takes place immediately upon the actuation of the portion 3% by the cam member 36. The parts are then again in position shown in Figs. 1 and 3.

It is to be understood that the pawl 7 during its backward movement, is out of engagement with its pinion 7and hence will permit reverse rotation of pinion 7 and gear 5 in the manner above described. The reverse rotation of the pinion and geartakes place while the pawl 7' is moving downwai'dly and then upwardly preparatory to its next engagement with the pinion. his period of time, during which the pawl 7 is out of engagement with its pinion, is just suilicient to permit the action of the weight upon the parts operated thereby. And by the time the action of the weight has been completed, the pawl 7 has moved upwardly to the point to engage the pinion and cause the next intermittent advance mover "ii.

In other words, the operation effected by the weight is performed during the regular idle interim of the pawl 7' and the regular operation of the machine not interrupted or interfered with by the operation of this indicating device.

Assuming that each of the particular books to be sewed comprises forty sections. the pin 20 is spaced from the cam member 36 a distance corresponding to forty teeth of the gear 5, and the device is set so that ion upon inserting the first section in the rnachine, the gear 5 will be moved the distance of the first tooth. Upon inserting the second section, the gear 5 will be moved the distance of the second tooth, and so on, the

parts operating in the manner above explained. Then upon inserting the fort-1eth section, the gear will be moved the distance corresponding to the iortieth tooth; whereupon the tripping mechanism will be actuated, as above explained, and the bell will ring to indicate that the group of sections fed into the machine'contains the proper number. Should, however, the bell ring before the operator has fed all of the sect-ions of a group into the machine, he will then know that the group contains too many tions and that this particular book, as sewed up to that point, should be removed. This is done by stopping the machine. Or, if the bell should not ring when all of thesections of a given group have been fed into the machine, then the operator will know that that particular group contains too few sections, and the machine is then stopped by the operatorso as to remove this imperfect book.

If the operator prefers, he may advance the gear 5 one tooth at the beginning of the day so as to have the bell ring, under normal'c'onditions, justafter he places the next to the last section of a given group in themachine, or in other Words, just as he is about to insert thelastsectioii. In-this Way, the operator has a little advance notice that that particular group of sections contains the proper number, he being able to observe, of course, that the section which he is about to insert is the last of that group. In case the bell should not ring at this particular time, the operator knows that he should stop the machine; and, when so set, he has more time to act so as to precludethe mist-akeof starting on the next group Without first removing the imperfect book. i

Then, too, should the operator discover that one or more sections are imperfect, after they have been fed into the sewing machine, and after they have been registered by my present device, he will stop the machine, remove the imperfect section or sections, re-' place such sections in the stack, and turn the gear 5 back a number of teeth corresponding to the number of sections replaced. Then theoperator resumes operation and the device is in step with the number of sections in the stack. It-is obvious that, except for the reverse re-setting movement of the gear 5, in such a case as just referred to, the bell Wouldring before all the sections are fed into the machine. The extent of such reverse adj ustment is limited only by the positionof the trip pin 20, as will be understood by referring to the drawing;

' The advantages resulting from my present attachment will beobvious. With this device, the operator is enabled to know-Whether the successive groups of sections contain the proper number; and if not,'-an opportunity is afforded to prevent an imperfect book from passing. Furthermore, my'device is not only automatic iniits action, but it can be attached to the present form fof booksewing machine, or the like, Without requir iiig alteration thereof. And, too, the trip means 20 is adjustable so that the device can beset according to the'number of sections in aparticular book that is to be sewed. Another advantage resides in the ability tov reverse or re s'et the gear 5 Whenever neces-' sary to keep the 1' device in proper step. Other advantages'will readily suggest themselves to one who is familiar with the art.

What I claim as new is:

1. In a book-seWing machine, the combi},

nation of means for receiving and securing together a succession of sections, and means,

operated automatically by said first-named means, for indicating successive equal groups or such sections.

2. In a book-sewing machine, the combi nation of means for receiving and securing together a succession of sections, and means, adapted for removable attachment to and sections, each containing the same predetermined number, and said indicating means being adjustable according to the number of such sections in a given group.

4. In a device of the class described, the combination of means forreceiving'and treating a succession of articles,indicating means adapted to be cocked and released,

means controlled by said-first-n'amedmeans for automatically cocking "said indicating;

means upon treatment of a predetermined number of such articles, and means for then automatically causing instantaneous release and operation of said indicating means'.

-5. In a device of thevclass described,the

combination of means, including a recipro cat-ing'part, for receiving andtreating a succession' of articles, a signalling means adapted to be cocked and'released, means includinga movable part adapted for actuation in one direction by said reciprocating part for cockingsaid signalling means, and means for then automatically actuating saidmovable part in the reversedirection "so as to effect release and ling means. I g

-6. In a device of the'class described, the

combinationof means, including a recipro eating part,for receiving and treating asuccession of articles," a signalling means adapted to be cooked and released, means including a movable part adapted for actuat on in one direct on by .said reciprocating part'for cocking said signalling means, and means for automaticallyactuat ngsaid movable part in the reverse direction so "as to efi ectrelease and operationof tlie'signalling means, said actuating means being initiated operation of the signalin its operation by the operation of said 9 cooking means,

"'7."In a deviceoi; the class described, the combination of means,

including a recipro cating part, for receiving and treating a tion in one direction by said reciprocating part for, cocking said signalling means,

means tending to move said movable part in' the'reverse direct-ion so as to operate the signall ng means, means for -estraining said last-nanied means and means for automatinumber of articles has nailing means. 7

succession of articles, a signalling means 7 adapted to be cocked and released, means i luding a movablep art adapted for actua-J vals,

8. Ina device of the class described, the combination of means, including a reciprocating part, for receiving and treating a succession of articles, said reciprocating part being active only in one direction, an indicating means, and automatic means controlled by said reciprocating part for o-pera tion of said indicating means, said parts being so constructed and arranged that the operation of said indicating means is effected during the interim between successive active movements of the reciprocating part.

9. An indicating attachment for book sewing machines or the like, comprising a bracket adapted to be attached to the frame of the machine, a signalling means, an arm for actuating said signalling means, and means for operating said arm, all of said parts being mounted upon said bracket, and said operating means being adapted for automatic control by a moving part of such machine.

10. An indicating attachment for book sewing machines or the like, comprising a bracket adapted to be attached to the frame of the machine, a signalling means, an arm adapted to actuate/said signalling means, means tending to cause said arm to actuate said signalling means, a detent for holding said arm in idle position, all of said means. being carried by said bracket, and automatic means governed by the operation of the machine for intermittently releasing said arm from said detent so as to produce a signal.

11. An indicating attachment for book sewing machines or the like, comprising a bracket adapted to be attached to the frame of the machine, a signallingmeans, an arm adapted to actuate said signalling means, means tending to, cause said arm to actuate said signalling means, means for temporarily withholding said signalling means from op eration, and means for automatically releasing said withholding means'repeatedlyf at regular intervals, all of said parts being supported upon said bracket and being adapted to be controlled by the operation of the machine to which attached. 7

12. An indicating attachment for book sewing machines or the like, comprising a V bracket adapted to be attached to the frame of the machine, a signalling means, an arm adapted to actuate said signalling means, means tending to cause said arm to actuate said signalling means, automatic means for temporarily withholding said signalling means from operation, and'means for automatically releasing said withholding means repeatedly at regular predetermined interall of said parts being mounted upon said bracket and beingadapted to be controlled by the operation of the machine to which attached.

'13. An indicating attachment for book sewing machines or the like, comprising a bracket adapted to be attached to the frame of the machine, a signalling means, an arm adapted to actuate said signalling means, means tending to cause said arm to actuate said signalling means, adjustable automatic means for temporarily withholding said signalling means from operation, and means for automatically releasing said withholding means at regular predetermined intervals,

all of said parts being mounted upon said bracket and being adapted to be controlled by the operation of the machine to which attached.

14. An indicating attachment for book sewing machines or the like, comprising a bracket adapted to be attached to, the frame of the machine, a signalling means, a rockably mounted arm adapted to actuate said signalling means, means tending to cause said armto actuate said signalling means, witlr holding means adapted tobe automatically set by operation of the machine after a pre-' determined period, and means automatically set into operation by actuation of said with-v holding means for releasing the same so as to effect operation of the signalling means, all of said parts being mounted upon said bracket and being adapted for control by the operation of the machine to which attached.

15., An indicating attachment for book sewing machines or the like, comprising a signalling means adapted to be cooked and released, means adapted for movement in' one direction for .cocking the signalling means and in the reverse direction for effecting release and operation of the same, and means adapted for co-ordination with a moving part of the machine to which attached for automaticcontrolof said movable means at regular intervals.

, 16. An in licating sewing machines or the like comprising a signalling means adapted to be cooked and released, rotatable means movementin one direction for first cocking and later recocking the signalling means and in the reverse directionfor effecting release and operation of the same, and means adapted for co-ordination with a moving part of the machinestructur'e, to which. the, device is attached, for automatic control of said r'otat-able means at regular intervals.

17. An indicating attachment for-booksewing machines or the like comprising a signalling means, rotatable means adapted for movement in one direction for cocking the signalling means and in the reverse direction for effecting operation of the same, and adjustable means carried by said rotatable means for varying the movements thereof with respect to time, said rotatable means being adapted for coordination with the movable part of themachine structure for automatic operation thereby at regular intervals. I v

attachment for book adapted for 18. An indicating attachment comprising hold said arm in cocked position. and to cause actuation of naid signalling means, a rotata: ble member adapted for movement in one direction to cock said arm and in theoppo site direction to release said arm so as to permit operation of said signalling means, and means adapted for operation by a ma chine structure for actuating said rotatable member in one direction, and automatic means for actuating said. rotatable member in the other direction.

19. An indicating attachment for book sewing machines or the like comprising a signalling means, rotatable means adapted for movement in one direction for first cocking and at any time thereafter re-cocking the signalling means, means'fo-r effecting op eration of said rotatable means; in the re verse direction for effecting operation of the signaling means, and means adapted for coordination with a moving part of the machine sctructure, to which the device is attached, for automatic control of said rotatable means at regular intervals.

20. An indicating attachment comprising a signalling means, an arm mounted for movement in one direction for cocking and in another direction for operating said sig naliing means, means for holding said arm in cocked position and for causing actuation of said signalling means upon release thereof, means adapted for movement in one direc tion to cock said arm and in the opposite direction to release said. arm so as to permit operation of said signalling means, means adapted for operation by a machine structure for actuating said last-named movable means in one direction, and automatic means i for actuating said last-named movable means in the other direction.

'21. An indicating attachment comprising a signalling means, an arm mounted for rockable movement in one direction for cocking the same and in another direction for operating said signalling means, means operatively arranged with respect to said arm so as to afford actuating force therefor to hold said arm in cocked position and to cause actuation of said'signalling means, a rotatable toothed member adapted for movement in opposite directions, means carried by said rotatable member for cocking said arm when said member is rotated in one direction, means carried by said rotatable member for releasing said arm so as to permit operation of said signalling means when said member is rotated in the opposite direc tion, means adapted for operation by a machine structure for engaging the teeth of said rotatable member in one direction, so as to rotate the same step by step, means for engaging the teeth of said rotatable member for temporarily preventing movement of said rotatable member in the opposite direction until said arm 1s cocked, means for releasing said preventing means simultaneously with.

the cocking of the signallingmeans and automatic means for actuating said rotatable member in the other direction upon release of said preventing means so as to permit actuation of the signalling means.

22. An indicating attachment comprising 7 a signalling means, an arm mounted for movement in one direction for cocking and in another direction for operating said signalling means, means for holding said arm in cocked position and for causing actuation of said signalling means upon release thereof, means adapted for movement in one direction to cocksaid arm'and simultaneously to become free forreverse movement to release said arm, means adapted for operation by a machine structure for actuating said last-named movable means in one direction, and automatic means for actuating said lastnamed movable means in reverse direction, upon release of the same, thereby effecting release of said arm and operation of the signalling means.

23. An indicating attachment comprising cooperating parts of a signal device, one of said parts being movable towards and away from the other part for cooperation therewith and being movable also in another direction for cocking of the same, a rotary toothed wheel, means actuated by the machine to which the attachment is applied, for rotating said wheel in one direction, a looking pawl therefor, said movable part of the signal device having a first portion extending to one side of said wheel and having a second portion associated with said pawl for disengagement thereof, a detent for said movable part for locking the same, means carried by said wheel and "adapted for engagement with the said first portion of said movable part to cook the same and at the same time to cause disengagement of the pawl by said second portion, means for maintaining said movable part in engagement with said detent and also for forcing the movablepart into engagement with the other part of thesignalling device upon release thereof, means for rotating said wheel in I 

